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E-Discussion Series for the advancement of HRBD


Equalinrights conducts annual series of online discussions which aim to be a forum of sharing and exchange between practitioners on topics that are important to the advancement of human rights-based development (HRBD). The HRBD series is designed to engage practitioners from around the globe in an interactive way to share and build their knowledge, experience and practice on these central questions. In 2007 a total of four E-Discussions took place; practitioners from different continents and backgrounds gathered online for one-day debates on issues related to HRBD. Given below is an overview of the sessions that were held. In 2008, the emphasis of the ediscussions is on Child Rights and related issues.

2009 Series


30 March – 10 April 2009
Reconciling Competing Interests over Land: Source of Livelihoods and Corporate Profit

Land rights issue is a multi-faceted and complex one; one of its biggest challenges being how to resolve competing claims over land? Agrarian communities, indigenous peoples and the landless all assert their land rights because for them, land is so essential for sustaining daily livelihoods. At the same time, corporations compete for the most fertile and resource-rich lands for profitable gain. Are these two motivations – livelihoods and corporate profit – reconcilable? What are the overlapping interests? How can we accommodate all claims?

This e-discussion aims to bring together businesses, indigenous communities and other stakeholders who have an interest in land to engage with each other, understand the motivations of the other and perhaps even kick-off unconventional alliances to further the struggle to assert land rights. Interested? Send an email to Mariam Munang mariam(at)equalinrights.org

Read agenda for discussion here

2008 Series


In 2008, we are initiating a process to foster increased understanding, interaction and learning for practitioners around implementing HRBD. We aim to do this increasingly through on-going and sustainable modes of interaction rather than one-off facilitation. We will also focus more on facilitating exchange, learning and documentation of practices and experiences amongst practitioners themselves. We will provide opportunities for practitioners to connect with each other online and face-to-face, to participate in various learning and action processes, and to document, analyse and exchange with others on their practices and experiences.

Equalinrights will start this new programme on implementing human rights-based development through a series of online discussions. The discussions will explore issues and challenges around HRBD. The timetable and registration form are attached. We hope that as many of you as possible will participate in at least one discussion: one of the major gaps you have helped bring to our attention is the lack of opportunity for practitioners working in the field to interact with others in similar fields, and to share and learn through practice.

10 – 24 November 2008: Child Rights Monitoring and Evaluation


As a sequel to the previous e-discussion on Child Rights in May 2008, Equalinrights will host a further e-discussion on the same topic where the focus will be on the monitoring and evaluation of children’s rights and the development of rights-based indicators. This e-discussion, once again, will be facilitated by Wout Visser of War Child and will cover a period of two weeks - from 10-24 November 2008  - so as to allow everyone ample opportunity to provide their input. On the 15th and the 20th of November 2008 respectively, Wout Visser will collate your feedback and pose further questions. A summary report will be made available within a week after closure of the debate. Read more>>

To facilitate this e-discussion, Equalinrights has created a Dgroup on child rights programming and rights-based strategies. A Dgroup is a web-based platform for dialogue, collaboration and knowledge sharing that allows you to exchange emails and share information resources on development-related topics. Join our Child Rights Dgroup here. Click the JOIN icon on the right of the page and follow the instructions. The administrator will then approve your request to join. This may take a few days. In case you experience any troubles in registering, please send an email to Mariam Munang.

16 to 28 May 2008: Child Rights


Equalinrights hosted an e-discussion from 16 to 28 May, facilitated by Wout Visser of War Child, The Netherlands, on strategies for effective integration of a (child) “human rights-based approach” in NGOs. Discussants shared their experiences and lessons learnt. They also sought to identify preconditions for success and offer suggestions for other colleagues to get on board and influence their organisational culture. Some of the key insights were the need to build critical child rights programming (CRP) constituency within an organisation, to strategically prioritise rights for effective CRP and to secure meaningful child participation and accountability.
Read the e-discussion transcript >>

29 April 2008: The Law and Human Rights Based Development (HRBD)


On 29 April, equalinrights hosted an e-discussion on "The Law and Human Rights Based Development (HRBD)" with several Southern practitioners. The conversation focused on access to justice for vulnerable groups, domestic legal frameworks to vindicate the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities, and community paralegals. Participants drew on experiences working on issues such as property and inheritance, child rights, and human rights education in Kenya, Senegal and South Africa. Many interesting issues emerged, including:

Read the e-discussion transcript >>

2007 Series


11 December 2007: How can we build a network of practitioners engaged learning: sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and developing strategies?


On the 11 December 2008, seven persons and consultants were engaged in a one-day online discussion on grassroots participation in policy-making. As a guideline for the discussion, the following questions were posed:

  1. What do we mean by a network of practitioners?
  2. How do we share knowledge across contexts?
  3. How can we develop reflective and innovative practice?

It was a small and productive exchange by e-mail and on Skype chat where given the time constraints of the participants largely posed as an introductory chat about these important issues. The discussion was proposed in order to gain an insight into the value of having an interactive global network of practitioners from various disciplines from around the world.
Read the discussion report >>

30 July 2007: Grassroots participation in policy-making


On the 30th of July, twelve resource persons and consultants were engaged in a one-day online discussion on grassroots participation in policy-making. As a guideline for the discussion, the following questions were posed:

  1. Have human rights-based strategies been successful in ensuring more grassroots voices are heard and listened to during local and national policy development processes?
  2. What are best practices and innovative tactics we can share with one another to ensure this happens more widely?
  3. And working from examples where this has not been the case, what can we do differently to better support broad-based participation in policy formulation?

It was a lively exchange by e-mail and on Skype chat where all the questions posed were touched upon. Overall it was felt that the human rights based strategies have moved in a positive direction but the full extent of its impact needs to be seen.
Read the discussion report >>

23 July 2007: Human dignity - in collaboration with PWESCR


On the 23rd of July 2007, thirteen resource persons and consultants were engaged in a one-day online discussion of what dignity means in the context of human rights-based development. The day started off with the following questions:

  1. What is dignity?
  2. Is dignity universal or individualistic?
  3. What is the utility for a concept of dignity in social justice work?
  4. What are measurable manifestations in life that tell us whether dignity is realized in a particular context?
  5. What measurements constitute failure?
  6. What is the role of the State in ensuring right to dignity for all?

This is event was hosted by equalinrights in collaboration with the Programme on Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (PWESCR), a new international initiative in the area of gender and economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR). To gain conceptual clarity and to learn from experiences globally, PWESCR is facilitating several e-discussions on the Right to Dignity in 2007.
Read the discussion report >>

15 June 2007: North - South relations in the advancement of HRBD


On the 15th of June 2007, eight resource persons came together online to debate North-Southrelationships in the advancement of human rights-based development.  Many internationaldevelopment agencies and donor institutions have affirmed their commitment to human rights-based development and demand similar commitment from Southern partners. Yet despite intense focus on what this means for Southern programmes and processes, there is less clarity on its implications for Northern institutions themselves. How are Northern institutions adapting to the HRBA? Have Southern organisations experienced shifts in their relationships with Northern partners? Are there more opportunities for open dialogue on the challenges of organisational change, for example, or on funding policies? Less? How can Southern practitioners and organisations support Northern processes of change?
The discussion was facilitated by Ravi Karkara (Save the Children) who wrote a report of the day, assisted by rapporteur Megan Brown (equalinrights).
Read the discussion report >>

14 June 2007: Grassroots empowerment and child rights movement


On the 14th of June 2007, eleven resource persons from equalinrights’ online database engaged in an online discussion on grassroots empowerment and the child rightsmovement. The following questions were the focus of this one-day debate:

  1. How can we help promote grassroots empowerment that integrates all community members, including marginalized groups such as women, children or minorities?
  2. In particular, what lessons can we learn from the child rights movement, which has seen successes overcoming traditional attitudes towards children and children’s role in the community?
  3. Can rights-based strategies used by child rights practitioners be successfully adapted to other issues, such as gender equity?


The discussion was facilitated by Upala Devi Banerjee (UNESCO) who wrote a report of the day, assisted by rapporteur Megan Brown (equalinrights).
Read the discussion report >>